Cape Town development engineer Gareth Ramsay has put forward a bold new plan to address the city's transport challenges, an elevated 'sky train' system connecting the CBD to the Atlantic Seaboard.
Ramsay says this futuristic rail line could ease traffic, boost urban development and offer a long-term solution to congestion in areas like Sea Point and Green Point.
His vision includes integrating the new rail line with Cape Town's famously unfinished Foreshore Freeway Bridge, turning it into a key part of the city's transport network, as Business Tech has reported. However, the City of Cape Town has already dismissed the plan, citing high costs and financial impracticality. Rob Quintas, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, said a sky train is not part of the city's current transport plans, calling the costs 'prohibitively expensive' and unsustainable without long-term subsidies.
Ramsay disagrees, arguing that the proposal hasn't been properly assessed. He believes city officials have failed to meaningfully engage with or evaluate the plan before shelving it. He's not opposed to rejection if it's well-informed but says ignoring it outright isn't in Cape Town's best interest.
Cape Town's current public transport strategy focuses on expanding the MyCiti Bus system, which city officials say is more feasible. However, Ramsay claims the MyCiti network can only do so much given the citys narrow roads and existing traffic. He notes that buses often get stuck in the same congestion they're supposed to solve and can't efficiently handle surges during peak times or big events.